Not going to Coachella this weekend? Don’t despair. You might miss out on some good people-watching, but by somewhere around 4pm on Saturday, we’ll be pretty jealous of all the TV-watching you’ll be doing in pajamas while we’re standing in line for portable restrooms and trying to prevent third-degree sunburns. To that end, we’ve compiled a list of the all-time best romantic comedies you can snuggle up with sans any need for feathers, fringe or anything likewise labeled “festival attire.”
Notting Hill
Notting Hill might be the cutest movie ever made, and "I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her," might be one of the most romantic lines ever written. We could watch this film a zillion times and never tire of it. Stream Notting Hill on Netflix.
Can't Hardly Wait
Can't Hardly Wait is one of the quintessential high-school films of the '90s. It stars the adorable Ethan Embry (Empire Records) and Jennifer Love Hewitt (Party of Five), and the entire film takes place over the course of one night, at the most teenage party of all parties. Stream Can't Hardly Wait on Netflix.
The Holiday
The Holiday is one of those films we inexplicably can't get sick of seeing, potentially because the idea of life-swapping with someone on the other side of the ocean, and subsequently falling in love as a result, is the ultimate escapist fantasy. Side note: Can we please bring Cameron Diaz back as a rom-com lead?! You can stream The Holiday on Netflix.
Clueless
Few movies have influenced the zeitgeist more than Clueless—writer Amy Heckerling basically invented an entire lexicon for the film. We almost wish Alicia Silverstone and Paul Rudd were a couple in real life except that our heads would explode from an overload of adorable. We'd also bring back Alicia as a rom-com lead in a heartbeat. You can stream Clueless on Netflix.
Bridget Jones's Diary
What makes Bridget Jones's Diary unique is that the extraordinary Renée Zellweger tried her best to be as ordinary as possible and still got not one but two heartthrobs to chase after her. What a revelation it was to see a less-than-perfect, normal human woman portrayed as desirable! You can stream Bridget Jones's Diary on Netflix.
His Girl Friday
This iconic, 1940s-era screwball comedy stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. We love these old films because they always feature a hapless man working hard to win the favor of a strong-willed woman who wants nothing to do with him, and in this case she also happens to be his ex-wife. You can stream His Gal Friday on Netflix.
My Best Friend's Wedding
Watching Julia Roberts go seven kinds of crazy in this film is oh-so-relatable, as we all have that one man we thought would be ours, whom we'll probably still secretly think about long after we're otherwise committed. You can stream My Best Friend's Wedding on Hulu.
Overboard
It's abundantly clear from whom Kate Hudson learned to steal scenes, as her mother Goldie Hawn definitely hijacks every frame in which she appears in this film. She and Kurt Russell are one of our all-time favorite real-life couples, which makes Overboard all that much more fun to watch. You can rent it on Amazon or iTunes.
When Harry Met Sally
This iconic film was written by the equally iconic Nora Ephron, and pretty much set the standard for all rom-coms to come. Fun fact: Sesame Street once spoofed the infamous faux-orgasm scene. You can rent When Harry Met Sally on iTunes or Amazon.
Chasing Amy
We actually forgot that Ben Affleck was in this film, which makes us want to rewatch it immediately. It also stars Renée Zellweger look-alike Joey Lauren Adams as the (lesbian) object of Ben's character's affection. Feelings about this film are complicated as it portrays a queer woman "going straight" for a man, but it's still, in our opinion, one of the best '90s-era rom-coms. You can stream Chasing Amy on Netflix.
Moonrise Kingdom
That this love story revolves around 12-year-olds makes it no less romantic. Though it's not an out-and-out comedy, there's always something inherently tongue-in-cheek about Wes Anderson's films. You can stream Moonrise Kingdom on Netflix.
50 First Dates
Drew Barrymore is another actress we really miss on the rom-com scene. She's just so freaking cute. Adam Sandler might not be our first choice for the male lead in any film, but with Drew opposite him, it works. You can stream 50 First Dates on Netflix.
13 Going On 30
This film, which is basically just a remake of the movie Big, has so many montages it's ridiculous in all the best ways. We also love this post on "The Most Early 2000s Outfits in 13 Going On 30 " (spoiler alert: spaghetti straps!). You can stream 13 Going on 30 on Netflix.
Shakespeare In Love
We love Goop, and we love Gwyn's cookbooks, but we love her onscreen in a rom-com more than anything. Shakespeare in Love is one of our go-to feel-good films—it concerns Shakespeare's lost years, which allowed the screenwriters to take liberties with reality in all the best ways. You can stream Shakespeare in Love on Netflix.
How To Marry A Millionaire
The premise of this film is admittedly cringe-worthy—three women set out to marry millionaires—but if you can get past that dated setup, it's a great movie. Lauren Bacall and Marilyn Monroe are priceless here, displaying the respective brands of charm that made them both icons. You can stream How to Marry a Millionaire on Netflix.
Roman Holiday
This is the film that made Audrey Hepburn a star, and she won—and then misplaced—an Oscar for it. It also pioneered the holiday trend of filming in Rome and managed to do wonders for Vespa sales. You can stream Roman Holiday on Netflix.
10 Things I Hate About You
Heath Ledger as a romanic lead—swoon! This film, based on Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew, may have had quite a few plot holes, but they don't bother us a bit. You can rent 10 Things I Hate About You on iTunes or Amazon.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Jason Segel won our hearts with this vulnerable yet hilarious film about heartbreak, which he wrote based on personal experience. You can rent Forgetting Sarah Marshall on iTunes or Amazon.
Sleepless In Seattle
This might be the most hopelessly and unapologetically romantic movie of all time, and it owes major props to the 1954 film An Affair to Remember, which it references frequently. You can rent Sleepless in Seattle on iTunes or Amazon.
Knocked Up
Somehow, Judd Apatow managed to get us to buy that Katherine Heigl's beautiful and accomplished character could fall for the childish slacker played by Seth Rogen in this film, which was surely no easy feat. For a movie with a lot of lowbrow humor, Knocked Up manages to have a ton of heart. You can rent it on iTunes or Amazon.
The Wedding Singer
Again, Drew Barrymore might be the cutest person ever to grace the screen in a rom-com. This film has her paired up with Adam Sandler as well, and the result is pretty memorable. You can stream The Wedding Singer on Netflix.
The Proposal
Ryan Reynolds earns his heartthrob status in this film as a salt-of-the-earth foil to Sandra Bullock's urban warrior. We can't possibly overstate how much we love this film. You can rent The Proposal on iTunes or Amazon.
There's Something About Mary
And again, Cameron. She crushes it in There's Something About Mary, proving that funny takes sexy to a whole new level. You can rent this film on iTunes or Amazon.
Can't Buy Me Love
This 1987 film is another classic in the high school rom-com genre. It stars an adorably young Patrick Dempsey as a nerd who pays a popular cheerleader to be his girlfriend, and while it didn't exactly win critical acclaim, it's still a fan favorite. You can stream Can't Buy Me Love on Netflix.
Drive Me Crazy
To be honest, we remember this film most for its inclusion of the Britney Spears song "(You Drive Me) Crazy" and the music video that accompanied it, which you can watch here. Stream Drive Me Crazy on Netflix.
